Application Note:

Utilities generate virtually pure sinusoidal Measurement of Harmonics

power. Nonlinear loads, such as frequency
In order to analyze the influence of the
inverters, switching power supplies and UPSes
harmonics, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is
consume nonlinear power. Figure 1 shows a
performed. FFT divides the waveform into
simple electrical network with pure source and
several waveforms, each one in another
single load. When the switch is connected,
frequency which is a multiplication of the
there is a voltage drop due to the supply line
fundamental one, as shown in Figure 3. Each
impedance. The result is that pure voltage in
waveform has its own amplitude and phase
the source leads to distorted voltage and
shift.
current in the main service (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Simple Electrical Network

Figure 3: Adding Waveforms

In order to enable analysis of the harmonic

distortion, the parameter THD, which stands for
Total Harmonics Distortion, is defined as
100%  (x2  x3  ....  xn )
2 2 2

THD 
. There are two different
x1

THD values for the voltage (THDv) and current

Figure 2: Distorted Waveform
(THDi).

Harmonics Monitoring // Copyright © 2014 SATEC Ltd. Page 1 of 4 // Sept. 2014

 Harmonics Standards and Affects on all loads
Practices
Harmonics can cause significant damage. A Affect on Transformers
comprehensive research, conducted in Europe Transformers are a major source of losses in the
at 1400 sites in 8 countries, reports that 20% electrical network. The losses in transformers
experience the following: include four different types:
 Computer lockouts (20%)  No load losses (core losses), which are fixed
 Light flickering (22%) and do not change with the load
 Electronic card failures (18%)  Copper losses, equals to I2R (all harmonics
 Power Factor correction system failures have same affect)
(17%)  Winding eddy current losses, linear with the
 Failures in high load switching (16%)
square of the harmonic index - PEC  I2h2
 Neutral conductor overheating (12%)
 Unexpected breaker operation (11%)  Stray losses (in clamps, tanks, etc.), includes
 Power meters inaccurate readings (6%) various losses and in estimation is linear
with the 0.8 power of harmony: PSL  I2h0.8
And of course excess losses and downtime.
Various standards, such as the American IEEE As can be seen from the above formulas, there
519, European EN50160 or the British standard is a difference in the losses caused by the
P5/4, specify limits for the THDv and some of current in each harmonic order. Since THD and
them also THDi. While for the voltage the levels TDD parameters provide equal importance to
are defined as an absolute value in each each harmonic order, they are not suitable of
standard/network (typically between 3% to analyzing the losses.
8%), the current is a more fluctuating value
There a several formulas to estimate the losses
which presents another challenge. For example,
and help designing the network for harmonics.
a site with computer servers causing 100A
The most common one is K factor, which is
distorted current out of a total of 1000A has
 ( I n n)
2
10% THDi. At night, most of the loads are down K factor  2
calculated as  In . Especially design
with total current of 200A but the computers
K-transformers are used to cope with
continue to work, resulting in 50% THDi. It
harmonics, according to the K factor. For
would seem that at night the problem is worse
example, a K4 transformer works with
than during the day, but it is rather the other
harmonics up to K factor of 4 similarly to
way around; the level of polluted current is the
regular (K1) transformer with pure sinusoidal
same, but since the network is less loaded at
waveforms.
night, the case is better than during daytime.
Using another parameter enables estimation of The additional losses in the transformer are
the current harmonics during different loading converted to heat and increase their
conditions. TDD (Total Distortion Demand) is operational temperature. According to
TDD 
100%  ( I 2 
2
I 3
2
 .....  I n
2
) Arrhenius law, each 10 Deg. Celsius reduce the
defined as I . It is defined
max demand
life expectancy in half, which means that
for the current only and its common levels are harmonics shorten the lifetime of transformers
similar to the voltage (3% to 8%). and other loads.

Harmonics Monitoring // Copyright © 2014 SATEC Ltd. Page 2 of 4 // Sept. 2014

 Affect on Motors  Monitoring the harmonic energy flow
direction (negative sign means load
Three phase motors (squirrel cage) design is generates harmonics)
based on the rotating of the three phase  Comparing the THDv and TDD – If
network. Harmonic voltage runs N times faster THDv > TDD the source is the utility
(N – order of harmonic). The result is that they
create a force reversed to the motor force that
is generated by the fundamental harmony and Recommendation
slow down the motor. The harmonic current Any electrical installation must take into
increases the motor heat, reducing its life account the harmonics. It is important to
expectancy. continuously monitor the harmonies levels and
take action shall they are exceeding certain
Affects on Power Factor Capacitors limits.

Capacitors are short circuit for high frequencies. Recommendations for new installations:
Power factor correction capacitors are designed  Estimate the level of harmonics
for the fundamental harmony. In presence of  Install power meters that can measure
harmonics, their impedance is lower which accurately at least 40 harmonics, THD, TDD
result in increasing the amount of harmonics, and K-Factor
capacitor overheating, potentially permanent  Specify limits for alerts and configure the
damage to capacitors and resonance between power meters accordingly
the capacitors and transformers. The solution is  Consider harmonics filtration solutions (low
installing series reactor to each capacitor that harmonic pollution loads, passive filers,
limit these phenomenon but increase the active filters, retuned power factor etc.)
system losses.
Recommendation for existing installations:
Perform harmonics study for a week and
Directions of Harmonics 
compare to international standards. Check
As the rule of thumb above, utilities deliver the levels of at least 40 harmonics, THD,
voltage harmonics to the consumers and TDD and K-Factor. It is possible to use
consumers inject current harmonics toward the temporary handheld meters. However,
power source. However, voltage and current permanent installation is preferred.
harmonics increase each other, particularly in  Specify limits for alerts and configure the
situations of resonance. This makes it power meters accordingly
complicated to identify which part has a higher  Consider harmonics filtration solutions (low
responsibility for the higher harmonics. harmonic pollution loads, passive filers,
Precise analysis of source of harmonics is based active filters, retuned power factor etc.)
on impedances and network simulation.
However, there are two practices that allow
reasonable evaluation of the direction:

Harmonics Monitoring // Copyright © 2014 SATEC Ltd. Page 3 of 4 // Sept. 2014

 Harmonics in SATEC devices
All SATEC meters from PM130EH and up
provides details about the harmonics, including:
 Measurement of THD as well as TDD with
local display and via communication
 Measurement of K Factor for transformer
performance monitoring and design
 Measurement of individual harmonics for
depth analysis (up to 40th in the basic
meters, 50th in mid-range and 63rd in high
end)
 Automatic comparison to International
power quality and harmonics standards, Figure 5: Harmonics Setpoint Example
such as IEEE 519
 Programmable controller logic on
harmonics such as in cases of high harmonic
level, PF control application or high losses
detection Summary
Figure 4 shows a basic powermeter model Harmonics is an important issue in the modern
EM133 that is equipped with complete electrical network, becoming increasingly more
harmonic measurements – up to 40th important as more switching and smart loads
harmonics, THD, TDD and k-Factor. It has built are present. Harmonics must be monitored
in relay that can be freely programmed with up regularly in order to verify its level and prevent
to 16 different setpoints, each one with its own potential failures or high losses. The use of
hysteresis of values and time. Figure 5 provides SATEC meters simplifies the operation by
an example of setpoint configuration for measuring all required parameters from the
harmonic protection that includes all three fundamental THD values, through TDD and K-
parameters – THD, TDD and K-Factor. The Factor as well as individual harmonics. With the
powermeter has internal “or” logic that makes custom control logic, the monitoring becomes
sure that exceeding any value will activate its an automatic process.
relay. By connecting the relay to a notification
system, the operator receives a warning for
excessive level of harmonics.

Figure 4: EM133 with Harmonic Monitoring

Harmonics Monitoring // Copyright © 2014 SATEC Ltd. Page 4 of 4 // Sept. 2014